MassDOT May Board Meeting

Bay State Bike Week Reminder!

Bay State Bike Week is almost here! Massachusetts will honor bicycle transportation with a week-long series of events from May 10th – 18th. PUMP UP your own event this week to show that bicycling can be a fun, healthy, safe, and sustainable travel choice.

Host a commuter bike breakfast, bicycle film festival, children’s bike safety training or lead a community bike ride. The event opportunities are endless! Specific event registration information, event resources, posters, brochures and materials request forms can be found on baystatebikeweek.org/.
Bay State Bike Week is an annual celebration of human-powered, two-wheeled transportation. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation with a truly statewide bike week. Bay State Bike Week has grown from a small number of organized rides to a variety of events including film screenings, bike breakfasts, festivals and more. Organizers collaborate with local advocates, bike shop owners, and others who travel by bike.

Bay State Bike Week also plays a central role in MassDOT’s mode shift goal to triple the levels of bicycling, walking and transit users throughout the Commonwealth by 2030.

Green Line Extension: Community Path Funding

MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey this week announced funding for a multi-modal Community Path to be built along the Green Line Extension (GLX) in Somerville and Cambridge. The 1.9 mile path will connect four GLX Stations: Lowell Street, Gilman Square, Washington Street and the relocated Lechmere. When complete, the path will provide a long-awaited connection that will give pedestrians and bicyclists a continuous route from Bedford to Boston. Secretary Davey was joined at the event by Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott, and community members.

The Lowell Street to Lechmere Community Path is projected to cost $39 million, half of which will be federal funds. The path will open in phases, and will be complete with the opening of the Green Line Extension project in 2020. The path will not only provide a direct route from neighboring cities and towns to Boston for bicyclists and pedestrians but also provide connections between the Red and Green Lines.

"The commitment to the GLX Community Path made here today once again affirms the Patrick Administration's commitment to healthier, more sustainable transportation options," said Secretary Davey. "The Community Path will better connect customers to multi-modal transportation that will improve both environmental and economic conditions in the region."

The Community Path originally connected the Alewife Linear Park to Davis Square in Somerville. In 2011, MassDOT completed the first extension of the path to Cedar Street using federal and state highway funds. In 2013, MassDOT began construction of the path extension from Cedar Street to Lowell Street. That phase is expected to be completed and open to use this fall.

MassDOT and the MBTA are working closely with the city of Somerville on the planning, design and construction of the path that will run through some of its most rapidly-developing neighborhoods.

The MBTA and MassDOT are in the process of designing the path and the Lowell Street path extension is currently being constructed. The city of Somerville is acquiring land and easements where necessary for the construction of the path, of which part will be constructed as emergency egress routes from the GLX stations. Somerville will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the path. The Community Path will be fully accessible and will include fencing, lighting, wireless alarm call boxes, bollards (removable and permanent), trash receptacles, landscaping and benches.

Bicycle, Pedestrian Safety Program Announced

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey this week announced the beginning of a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Awareness and Enforcement Program to reduce the number of crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians and enhance safe travel.

The program in the first year will provide a total of $461,851 in federal highway safety funding to support partnerships with Regional Planning Agencies, local officials and police departments in 12 communities statewide, with additional communities to be included in future years. The initial 12 communities were identified based upon several factors, including the highest number of reported non-motorist crashes per capita and high proportion of trips made by bicycles and walking.

This initiative responds to MassDOT's 2013 Healthy Transportation Policy Directive to dramatically increase transportation by walking, cycling, and public transit and the State Highway Safety Plan goal of reducing fatalities and injuries by 20% in five years.

"We have made safe travel regardless of transportation mode a priority, and we have work to do on many fronts," said Secretary Davey. "We seek greater awareness among the traveling public to create a share-the-road approach and heightened enforcement of the rules of the road, and we must invest strategically in smart infrastructure choices that improve safety. This program will combine these efforts in coordination with our state, regional and local partners."

Enforcement

The Bicycle and Safety Awareness and Enforcement Program will provide funds for stepped-up enforcement and increased involvement with police departments regarding pedestrian and bicycle issues. Citations and warnings issued to drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians would be used to increase safe travel and to gather important information and feedback about local infrastructure issues. Examples could include using feedback from traffic stops, citations and warnings to identify trouble spots, such as poor lighting at intersections or lack of pedestrian or bicycle crosswalk protection.

Awareness

The program will include a comprehensive awareness campaign targeted at all motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Outreach will be provided about changes in transportation infrastructure and policy, such as the introduction of sharrows, bike boxes, bike lanes, and pedestrian countdowns. Police and local officials will distribute “Sharing the Road” guides, along with additional training materials developed by the state Department of Public Health working with MassBike and WalkBoston. Awareness materials will include information on rules of the road, new signs, signals and other equipment related to bicycles and pedestrians, safety tips, and health benefits of walking and biking. MassDOT’s Safe Routes to Schools program will include bicycle and pedestrian safety awareness and training in schools, in addition to a video competition aimed at the high school age students.

Infrastructure

Feedback from enforcement and awareness will allow for identification of infrastructure improvements that are needed to improve safe travel for all modes in each community. MassDOT will assist local communities to make the infrastructure improvements in future years.

The 12 communities participating in the program this year include the following:

CapeFLYER Weekend Rail Service Returns May 23

MassDOT and the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) today announced CapeFLYER weekend rail service to Cape Cod and the Islands will begin Friday, May 23 through Labor Day, with an improved schedule and new station stop at Wareham Village.

“CapeFLYER is a proven success in giving customers from the Greater Boston area a quick, convenient and car-free option to enjoy the attractions, beaches and restaurants of the Cape and Islands,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. “We also hope that local residents will use CapeFLYER to conveniently enjoy the Cape and Islands without having to drive.”

“The new CapeFLYER schedule on Friday night represents a significant improvement over last summer’s trip,” said Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Administrator Thomas S. Cahir. “Working with MassDOT and the MBTA, we have been able to reduce the trip time on Friday nights to approximately two and a quarter hours. We believe this will encourage more visitors to leave their cars behind to enjoy all that the Cape & Islands have to offer while at the same time reducing congestion.”

CapeFLYER trains in 2014 will include a station stop at Wareham Village to provide customers with another destination option. The new station will be located off Main Street near the Wareham Fire Department.

The train will continue to coordinate with ferries to provide shuttles that will allow customers to reach Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. All CapeFLYER trains throughout the weekend will now make the same station stops throughout the season. CapeFLYER again this year will include bike racks and bike tools so customers can bring their bikes – and even tune them up onboard - for their time on the Cape.

In its inaugural season, the CapeFLYER had 16,586 riders and generated $290,756 in fare revenue.Visit www.capeflyer.com for complete schedules and ticket information.